Which mass produced car is closest to a teardrop shape ?

[Christ]

350Z - Remove the rear spoiler, lower it 1" more, and you're pretty good about aero... now to get rid of that wasteful high-revving inline 6 engine...

[MetroMPG]

Didn't know the story of the RaRa, Phil. Learn something new from you every day.



(Just a scale model photo)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by metroschultz

Hey Phil,
How about weighing in on one that perhaps us poor people could buy from a junkyard and play with.
I was thinking of the Ford Probe.

Schultz, if you're going to go to that much work, why not do this instead?

I'd bet money this car's Cd is at least as good as the gen 1 Insight, and with additional mods, would be well below it.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ropped-90.html

[Christ]

Damn... is that a cucaracha or a car?

As far as that metro goes, as sweet as it looks... holy crap, I'd never be able to drive that thing... too much attention for me. LOL. Ok, maybe on weekends.

I'd love it to stay as an EV or at least a g/e hybrid... like... a 30 HP small gas engine, with the outer windings of the electric motor on the back of the engine, a la Prius.

[basslover911]

Whatever happened to the Mx3? ITS A GREAT PLATAFORM!

I know people take them down to around 2200 pounds, and they are VERY aerodynamic!

Heck, Stick a 600cc motorcycle engine in there and your set! Ala smart! (But with MUCH better aerodynamics and with MUCH higher possibilities)

[Cd]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Schultz, if you're going to go to that much work, why not do this instead?

I'd bet money this car's Cd is at least as good as the gen 1 Insight, and with additional mods, would be well below it.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ropped-90.html

( He forgot the wheel skirts )

[Cd]

Originally Posted by bryn

my van is only .30 stock .cd according to gm. I think bluebook value is down to about $800, with all plastic body pannels rust won't be a problem. with a engine/trans swap mpg could be pretty good. besides with seat belts for 7, car pooling is easy.

I've always loved the design of your van. It looks so much like the front end of a 'bullet' train !
The only problem being that it needs to be towing an aerotrailer to be truly streamlined. ( Hey ... then it really would start to look like a bullet train !! )

[Cd]

Originally Posted by metroschultz

Hey Phil,
How about weighing in on one that perhaps us poor people could buy from a junkyard and play with.
I was thinking of the Ford Probe.
I have no numbers but, from what I remember they were designed with aero in mind from the factory.
Also their sister car the Mazda MX6.
Both are relatively inexpensive if you were to buy a rolling assembly from a bone yard and add your own drivetrain.

I'm thinking take my Metro/Swift engine /trans and put in a stripped out Probe rolling chassis.

I would play the devil getting the weight out (and for the suspension I would not be able to remove weight), but what about the possabilities for aero on something like that?
Schultz

Yes !
Actually, when I started this thread, that is what I was thinking - ( What kind of car can the average Joe buy cheap, and use as base for creating a good 'teardrop' shaped car. )
I notice that you we thinking of the Probe and MX6.
I have always had my eyes on these two cars as well, but the Probe has pop-up headlights that would have to be modified. The MX6 does away with the problem, but the MX6 has more of a flat decklid that ruins the overall shape if you wanted to continue the curve of the glass further.
Also, I'm guessing that the MX 3 weighs less, has a smaller frontal area, and just needs the back end extended out more to be a true teardrop.

[lunarhighway]

here's a couple of my faves

citroen c4 coupé...
0.28Cd


opel insignia
0.27Cd


audi A2... may look bulky at first glance but it's just the front of a drop with the point bit cut off love that grillblock
0.26Cd

[Cd]

Aerohead : I believe you posted these pictures a while back. What car is this and what was it's Cd ?
While not a mass produced car, I still find it interesting. Also one more question for you : What was the Cd of the Oldsmobile Aerotech in both Longtail and shorttail versions ?